The people at Schuitema have pointed out that while a wage or salary brings a person to the work place, you are not “buying” his labor. The argument is that you cannot separate a person from his labor, you cannot buy the commodity called labor and put it in a bottle. The two come together or not at all. And, fortunately, since slavery was outlawed it is no longer possible to buy people.
So money brings people to the work place, but it’s a boss’ power or authority that they work for. What the people at Schuitema have shown in their work all over the world, from boardrooms to mine shafts, is that people work willingly for their boss when they perceive power as being used legitimately. What then makes the use of power legitimate? When the person on the receiving end of the power equation does not resent it being used on them and you, therefore, do not invoke the mediocrity response?
Let us take a moment and explore the issue of intention, or what in Schuitema is referred to as Intent.
A crude but stark example of the use of power is to compel someone to do something by the use of physical force. Let us examine two scenarios where physical force is used on someone, and see how each situation is viewed differently by the person being compelled:
(A) I am waiting for a student outside the classroom and he is taking his time talking to friends as he comes out. I lose my patience. I grab him by the collar and physically drag him out of the door. The result of this will be that he will resent me greatly and go out of his way to get back at me behind my back.
(B) I grab a student by the shirt, pull him out of the class throwing him through the door. He later finds out that the building was on fire and I probably saved his life. The result will likely be that he is extremely grateful to me for saving his life and probably go out of his way for me when I ask him to do something.
The action in both situations was the same: using physical force to drag someone out of a room. However, in one situation the person is grateful and in the other he is resentful. This is because in each situation my intention was different. In situation A my intent was to suit my convenience, and to put this child in his place. In situation B my intent was to help the other person and I was acting in his interest.
In the latter situation because the use of power is seen by the student as being exercised in his interest, it does not lead to resentment but instead to gratitude. Thus when power is exercised on a subordinate by a boss, if the subordinate believes the boss is looking after his best interest, his Care and Growth, he acquiesces willingly.
Therefore:
A relationship of power between teacher and students is legitimate if the intent of the relationship is to care for the student and to grow the student.
This is a universal truth in any relationship of power between a ‘big one’ and a ‘little one’. If we explore the first relationship of power that a human being experiences, it is that of parent and child. A parents fundamental intent is to care for the child and create an environment that encourages the child to grow to his full potential. It is the instinctive acknowledgement on the child’s part that he is cared for, which allows the willing submission to parental authority. It is this intuitive realization that gives legitimacy to the relationship.
When we genuinely care for someone we act in their interest. Then we are not using them for our purpose however noble that may be.
Comments
One response to “Leadership in Education – Intent and Legitimate Power”
The two examples indicate force been used but in the second example a good motive is shown i.e. looking after the interest of the employee.
In the current work place, employees must also show the ability and capacity to be able to identify the hazard in this instance the danger of a fire.
At the time of this response I was watching the news and I was concerned by an employee who claims that he is currently earning less than R8000 after he worked for 31 years. I mention this because there are several things which come into consideration. There is always room for development in one way or the other. If a person can not see that opportunity and not use it, he or she will ultimately suffer the consequence. Unfortunately the suger strike starts while the mine strike is not ended where employees demand R12500. This is an indication that individuals must realize that development is a continual endevour to get out of the fire.